January 2008 is not only the start of another year but for the
ABF Masterpoint Centre, it is the beginning of a new era. After being run and
administered from the home of John and Ruth Hansen in WA, the Centre will be
housed at the offices of Migration Path in Victoria. This relocation is the
culmination of an extensive upgrade to the server facilities which will run the
Centre into the future. The effective move date will be 1 April 2008.

Whilst most clubs and players will see very little change to the
facilities provided by the Centre, the ABF Management Committee are confident
that the easier to use Windows based scoring and online masterpointing
capabilities of the new software will prove very attractive to clubs and their
directors as they become familiar with them.

It is not the intention of the ABF MC to insist that all clubs
move over to this new software immediately. The roll-out will be staged at
intervals in order to provide training and support to the clubs in the states
with the smaller number of affiliated clubs initially. As these states and
clubs grow confident with the new package, other key clubs will be encouraged
to come on board.

Until this roll-out is effected, club masterpoint secretaries should continue to
send their files through to the Centre but to the following email address:-

The postal address and telephone contact details will not change
until 1st April 2008. After this date a "hot line" for queries will
be established with an administrator at the Centre available to respond.
Additionally a message service will be in place.

The ABF MC look forward to this new era and encourage all state and club
administrators to direct any queries or concerns during the teething phase of
this project to:-

John Hansen will be "on line" for a further three month period
assisting with the issues that are likely to arise during this time. It goes
without saying that after 20 years of service to the ABF, its clubs and players
as Coordinator of the Masterpoint Centre, the ABF MC owes a debt of gratitude
to John Hansen for his professionalism in administering the many aspects of
this very important role. Sincere thanks are also conveyed to Ruth Hansen who
supported John very capably during this time. Perhaps now John and Ruth will
have more time to indulge in their favourite pastime!!